Instadrabbling Sessions for October, November, and December
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
SWG News
New Challenge: Stars
Create a fanwork using star-themed prompts presented in a bingo board format.
Cultus Dispatches: Trends in Fandom Entry Year
The films inspired a lot of fanfiction, yes, but exactly how fanfiction authors interacted with them predicts who remains in the fandom for long durations.
Character of the Month: Marach
There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] In the Gardens of Lórien by gaydhros
“Can you wait that long?” Findekáno asks.
“Yes,” snaps Maitimo , though in truth he is not so sure. His bladder is ridiculously full, swollen and aching, jostling around uncomfortably with every step he takes. It takes a concerted effort of will not to squirm around awkwardly or grab…
[Writing] The Skin of Your Mother Before You by gaydhros
But Aredhel knew better than her mother; she was stronger, she was more willful, she was enlightened. She would not make the same mistakes Anairë had made. She would find a way to do it all differently.
***
Re-embodied in Aman, Aredhel struggles to come to terms with all that has…
[Reference] Eönwë by NelyafinweFeanorion
Across the history of the "Silmarillion," Eönwë's role settles on a character who leads without taking upon himself the power to mete out justice and who acts with equanimity across some of the most harrowing conflicts in the early legendarium.
[Writing] The Day Transcending Night by StarSpray
The Rings have been forged. The armies of Mordor are marching into Eriador. Eregion burns.
Far away from it all, by the shores of the Sea, Celegorm remembers his name.
[Writing] When the Leaves Fall Golden by Dagstjarna
Celebrimbor reflects on his life and his childhood in Tirion.
[Writing] The Spruce Tree by Dagstjarna
A young Celegorm and Curufin befriend an old Spruce tree.
[Writing] Bury Me to Release Your Splendor by annarobots
“Do you know what grows on the shores of the southern isles? A trading-merchant might bring many strange specimens to our lands, like nothing I have ever seen. In recent days, I have tasted a ripe fruit with firm flesh that parted beneath my tongue in a burst of liquid sweetness. So…
Current Challenge
Stars
Construct a fanwork using star-themed prompts in a bingo card format. Read more ...
Random Challenge
New in References
Across the history of the "Silmarillion," Eönwë's role settles on a character who leads without taking upon himself the power to mete out justice and who acts with equanimity across some of the most harrowing conflicts in the early legendarium.
Speak Friend and Enter: Trends in Fandom Entry Year by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.
There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] For a Better World by Ellynn
Thirteen years before the War of the Ring, an orcling — more intelligent and more curious than most — is born in Mordor. His curiosity will lead him to both incredible discoveries and perilous situations, all of which will shape him into a leader unlike any Mordor has ever known. But to become…
[Writing] IN THE SHIRE-RECKONING by Diane Finnis-Robb
-This novel was completed for Hobbit Day 2026 and will be updated in serialized fashion here as I make final edits; so feedback is very much welcome.
-It is a multi-generational novel spanning the fgormation of the Shire to the Great Plague Year Thirty-six and focuses on the origins of an…
[Writing] Under Agate Skies by Isilme_among_the_stars
Erestor finds himself thrust into adventure when Elrond requests his company escorting Arwen to Minas Tirith after the War of the Ring is won. All too aware of the chronic illness that has bound his friend to Rivendell for the past several centuries, Glorfindel has some concerns. Erestor, aware…
Around the World and Web
Oritober 2026
A gen and safe for work event celebrating Middle Earth's favorite dwarf scribe!
Erestober 2026
An event running throughout October, to show appreciation for Erestor!
Silm Smut Week 2026
Silm Smut Week is a Tumblr event celebrating sexually explicit fanworks.
Tolkien Sapphic September
Tolkien Sapphic September is a month long event focusing on Sapphic relationships and characters in Tolkien and adjacent materials.
SWG News
Instadrabbling Sessions for October, November, and December
Posted by SWG Moderators on . Last updated on .
Join us on the first Saturday of every month, as Anna (IdleLeaves) hosts an instadrabbling session on our Discord server! We welcome all creators to join us for an few hours of creating, squeeing, and hanging out with fellow fans on the following dates:
- October 3, 2026 at 6PM/18:00 UTC (find this in my timezone)
- November 7, 2026 at 6PM/18:00 UTC (find this in my timezone)
- December 5, 2026 at 6PM/18:00 UTC (find this in my timezone)
What is instadrabbling? Instadrabbling is a long-standing community activity in the Tolkien fanfiction fandom. A group of friends gets together on chat, someone throws out a prompt or four, and everyone writes a drabble (or whatever comes to mind). We share our creations in the server and admire each other's work. Instadrabbling is low-pressure and casual, and all are encouraged to participate to whatever degree they are comfortable. Instadrabbling responses shared on our server can be about any aspect of Tolkien's legendarium, not just Silmworks.
When we instadrabble, we meet on the #instadrabbling channel on our Discord server. Discord invites can be requested at any time from the moderators. All are welcome to join the Discord, whether you want to instadrabble with us or not!
New Challenge: Stars
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Elo! Behold! Look up to the heavens and see the stars!
Varda created them. They were the first thing the Elves saw, and the Elves loved them. Eärendil became one. His son Elros and his people followed that star to their new island. Because of this, one of Númenor’s names was Starwards. Carried from its destruction were seven stars (and seven stones and one white tree).
Stars were important in Tolkien’s legendarium. This month, our challenge takes its inspiration from them. We give you a panoply of stars to pick from on multiple bingo boards.
We are not drawing bingo numbers for this challenge. You can choose a prompt or prompts from any of the bingo boards. As always, you can use the prompts however you want, and your fanwork does not have to be about or mention stars. You can mix and match prompts in a single fanwork, and there are special stamps for completing a row of prompts, a column, a diagonal, or for the truly stellar among you, an entire card blackout. Please let the mods know if you need one of the special stamps.
Find the prompts for the Stars challenge here.
Thank you to Corvid for this month's banner and stamps!
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 15 October 2026. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
Cultus Dispatches: Trends in Fandom Entry Year
Posted by SWG Moderators on . Last updated on .
To say that the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films inspired a lot of fanfiction is like saying that was is wet. It seems obvious—but do a bit of fiddling and twisting, and it becomes more complex than it seems on the surface.
This month's Cultus Dispatches column—our monthly column on Tolkien fandom cultures and history—uses Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data from three surveys to consider how the films inspired fanfiction. Naturally, they did, but ten years' worth of survey data shows that exactly how is much more complicated than that. For instance, when an author began writing fanfiction relative to the films entering or leaving theaters seems to predict how long they'll stick around, and other historical events happening in the background of these major moments in Tolkien fandom history also added fuel to fanfiction participation.
You can read more about what the data show in "Speak Friend and Enter: Trends in Fandom Entry Year."
Character of the Month: Marach
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With more than two hundred characters, The Silmarillion can't elevate every character to the status of a hero. Most of those two hundred characters play a supporting role, establishing the families and civilizations that would eventually triumph over first Morgoth, then Sauron.
Marach is one such character. Mentioned just seven times in the published text, he can easily evade notice. However, as NelyafinweFeanorion points on out in this month's Character of the Month biography, Marach has important roles to play. Many notables trace their roots to his family tree, and the allegiances he forges are important in the history of the First Age and beyond.
If his name makes you wonder, "Huh? Who??" check out NelyafinweFeanorion's primer on this character who helped establish some of the most important families among the Edain. You can read NelyafinweFeanorion's biography of Marach here.
New Challenge: Allusive
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These tales are ‘new’, they are not directly derived from other myths and legends, but they must inevitably contain a large measure of ancient wide-spread motives or elements. After all, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of ‘truth’, and indeed present aspects of it that can only be received in this mode; and long ago certain truths and modes of this kind were discovered and must always reappear.
~ Letter 131 to Milton Waldman
All stories, art, and creative endeavors depend in part on the stories, art, and creative endeavors to come before them, weaving back and across and through familiar and loved (or loathed!) works. These allusions create a sense of depth and remind us that new creative works are always unspooling, an essential part of our humanity.
This month's challenge considers the concept of the allusion: a reference to a previous work of literature, art, myth, or history. Participants will choose one (or more!) prompts from a list of allusions, found below. As always, you can use your prompt however you want, and we will never question if a challenge work has adequately used its prompt. For instance, you can create a fanwork about the allusion you select, or you can use the specific phrase in your work—or you can take a totally new and different approach!
You can find the prompts for the Allusive challenge here.
Thank you to Zdenka for this month's banner and stamps!
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 15 September 2026. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
Cultus Dispatches: "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far)
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The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies have in many ways defined the Tolkien fanfiction fandom, not only shaping how fans engage with the books but driving fan engagement so that the Tolkien fanfiction fandom remains one of the largest fandoms in history. When the Rings of Power show debuted, many wondered if it would have a similar impact, sustaining interest in Tolkien, encouraging fans to pick up the books, and keeping the fandom thriving.
This month's article in Cultus Dispatches, the SWG's monthly fan studies column, uses data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey to get a first glimpse at the impact The Rings of Power has had on the fandom so far. The data show that that impact has been minimal, with few fans joining the fandom or engaging in fanfiction because of the show, even to "write against" it. However, data about the films show that new authors didn't enter the fandom until after the films left theaters, so the biggest impacts of the show may be yet to come.
At the same time, the nearly one in ten authors in the survey who started writing because of the show can't be overlooked. How are writers and readers engaging with the show through fanfiction? How are they similar and different from existing fanfiction authors? Why has the show had minimal impact so far compared to the films, and can we expect this trend to continue?
This month's column tackles these questions and more! You can read "The Rings of Power Is a Ripple (So Far)" here.
New Challenge: Building Middle-earth
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While Tolkien is known for his vast natural landscapes, those expanses are populated by people—and the buildings they construct. Whether a cottage tucked into the forest or the soaring spires of a grand city, the architecture of Arda can send the imagination adventuring through settings ethereal and astonishing.
This month's challenge uses architecture to inspire fanworks. Participants will receive a prompt from the challenge moderators; you can choose if you'd like to receive an architectural style, a location on Arda, or both. As usual, if the prompt you are assigned isn't working for you, just let the challenge moderators know, and we will draw again. You can request a prompt by emailing us, sending us an ask on Tumblr, commenting on our Dreamwidth, or requesting a prompt on the #monthly-challenges channel on our Discord.
You can use your prompt however you want to inspire your fanwork. While setting and architectural descriptions are one approach, this certainly isn't required!
Thank you to Sallysavestheday for this month's stamps!
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 15 August 2026. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
Cultus Dispatches: Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey
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Who writes Tolkien-based fanfiction? Who reads it? As the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey enters its third iteration with up to ten years of demographic data, this month's Cultus Dispatches column tackles evidence from the survey to answer that question.
Ten years ago, the Tolkien fandom saw the final film of the Hobbit trilogy, which brought a boom in activity. With those films a decade behind us and in the midst of the Rings of Power television show, how has the fandom changed? Demographic data shows key changes in gender, educational attainment, and age, as well as sustained trends in race/ethnicity and religion and new insights about neurodiversity.
You can read the article "Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey" here.
New Challenge: Epic 80s
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Whoa! It's our annual decades challenge and we're vegging out in the most tubular, bad to the bone decade for a month of rad fanworks. So spray up your hair, don your denim jacket, and tie on your skates to hang ten back to the 1980s!
For the Epic 80s challenge, you will choose from hella 80s-themed prompts to create a fanwork. Your fanwork totally does not have to take place in the 1980s. You can use these prompts however you want! It's most definitely legit to keep it chill with just a title from a prompt, or you can book it in a more bodacious way by using lines, lyrics, album covers, movie posters, plot points—like whatever floats your boat! Of course, crossovers are the bomb if that's how you want to step off. We encourage gnarly interpretations and use of prompts, including mad loopholing!
Thank you to Aneréa for this month's banner and stamps!
You can catch the Epic 80s prompts here.
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 15 July 2026. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
Cultus Dispatches: Communities Do Comment
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More than a year ago, our fan studies column Cultus Dispatches embarked on a study of commenting behavior using Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data, plus data from sites like Archive of Our Own and FanFiction.net. At long last, we have the comment data from the SWG to add to the conversation!
Since the advent of websites with commenting systems, authors have wondered (and worried) about how to increase the comments left on their stories. Many of us have done the statistical analysis familiar to fanworks creators: clicks and kudos and comments and what the proportion of each reveals about reader reactions. Likewise, many have offered theories over the years of how to increase commenting or why it is so hard to get a reader just to tell the author they like the story.
This article builds on prior work pointing to community as essential to a robust commenting culture. Simply put, people comment more when they know the author and feel a sense of shared community with them. Data from various sites, along with Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data, supports this conclusion.
For the complete discussion of these data, check out Communities Do Comment: Expanding the 3C's of Commenting with SWG Data.
